Message from the Dean

In introducing the Graduate School of Law, I would like to begin by tracing its history.

The establishment of the graduate school at Keio University dates back to 1906, sixteen years after the founding of the college. Until then, Keio University had produced many individuals who went on to play active roles in society, particularly in the business world.

However, Eikichi Kamata, the President at the time, believed it was essential to foster a “spirit of free inquiry” that could not be cultivated in government-run schools—that is, national universities—and he embarked on the training of “scholars who would devote their lives to learning.” The graduate school’s regulations of that period stated that the school was a research institute where graduates of the college could further “master the deepest principles of scholarship.” This independence of learning represented a return to the spirit of private education articulated by Yukichi Fukuzawa, the founder of Keio University, in An Encouragement of Learning.

Then, following a reorganization under the University Establishment Ordinance of 1923, and with the establishment in 1951 of the new graduate school system that is still in place today, Keio University established the master’s program of the Graduate School of Law and, two years later, the doctoral program. This was at a time when Japan was still under occupation. Initially, the Graduate School of Law consisted of two majors, Civil Law and Political Science. In 1963, the Major in Public Law was added, creating the current three-major structure. Furthermore, reforms have since been implemented to respond to changing societal needs, with the establishment of the specialized track in space law within the Major in Public Law, and specialized tracks in public policy and journalism within the Major in Political Science.

Many of those who have studied at the Graduate School of Law have gone on to play significant roles in academia and the legal profession, as well as in politics, government, business, the media, and non-profit organizations. Indeed, the time has come when people who have "mastered the deepest principles of scholarship" are demonstrating their high level of expertise not only in academia but also in various departments and institutions throughout society.

In the past, to achieve its modernization, Japan imported various systems from the West to build the framework for its society and nation. It was an era when skillfully adopting systems and knowledge from countries with different histories and cultures was necessary to construct a modern system of governance.

However, in today’s world, where globalization has advanced remarkably, the roles and functions of collective entities such as nations are changing significantly. The premise that everything will work out by following a single principle has been lost, and in all situations, we are faced with complex problems where pluralistic and diverse values and ideas compete. What is needed in the world today is perhaps a fundamental "questioning" rooted in human nature—one that seeks to fulfill our existence while organizing and sustaining our communities.

To confront this era of rapid change and flux, the Graduate School of Law's instruction is based on ensuring students firmly acquire the disciplines of individual academic fields, such as law and political science. At the same time, we actively provide guidance that reflects contemporary needs in research by having multiple faculty members participate in discussions on current issues arising in Japan and the international community.

The Graduate School of Law also welcomes many international students from around the world. The participation of these students, with diverse cultural backgrounds, enriches the study of each discipline through multiple perspectives. Furthermore, specialized tracks have been established to enable advanced recurrent learning for working professionals, allowing them to make use of their professional experience. The Graduate School of Law thus provides an open academic environment for individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Today, for those aspiring to become researchers, the path to a university teaching position is thought to be narrowing due to the declining birthrate. However, in any era, a society in a period of transition inevitably demands high-quality research. Just as was the case when the graduate school at Keio University was first established some 120 years ago. The history of the Graduate School of Law mentioned above is also a testament to the fact that Keio’s efforts to meet this demand have indeed borne fruit.

Now more than ever, as the value of a “spirit of free inquiry” continues to grow, the faculty and staff of the Graduate School of Law look forward to engaging with the new lines of inquiry brought forward by individuals with diverse perspectives and creativity.